2019 Ford EcoSport w/ Ford Group Philippines

Ford Group Philippines gave the opportunity to a number of motoring journalists to rediscover their childlike spirit for adventure, while giving us the opportunity to discover their new 2019 Ford EcoSport.

Same, same, but Different

Styling of the 2019 Ford EcoSport is similar to the previous generation from the profile, and the rear of the compact SUV. Only giveaway in traffic that you’re in the presence of a 2019 EcoSport is the rear spare tire cover, which is made with sharp lines equating to a more aggressive look. It could be compared to a shield you would probably find in an Avengers film. The story changes when you’re face to face with the EcoSport. Giving up the Aston Martin-esq grille, along with the chromed out round fog lamps, and exchanging them for a cleaner, more mature look. This now sets the 2019 EcoSport in the same design league as it’s crossover cousin. A little less Ford Fiesta, and a little more Ford Edge.

Creature comforts increased in the interior of the 2019 Ford EcoSport. Quality soft-touch material lines the dashboard, compared to the previous generation’s hard plastic. The instrument cluster gets a much-needed upgrade from the toy-like tachometer, and speedometer, to now a more refined style paired to a modern vehicle information computer. The interior jewel of the 2019 Ford EcoSport is the Ford SYNC3 infotament system. Quite a leap from the previous generation’s stamp sized infotament system. Floating in the center of the dash is an 8” mutlicolour touchscreen for the Titanium variant, and for the Ambiente, and Trend, a 9” touchscreen display.

Using the SYNC3 system is like using any modern day smart phone, so sitting down in a brand new Ford EcoSport, and playing around with the infotament system would be a cakewalk. Integration of your smartphone is easy through Bluetooth, or USB cable. Oddly, you would need to download, and operate AndroidAuto to fully integrate your Android smartphone. Only problem with that is they don’t offer AndroidAuto for the Philippines Play Store. Not to worry though, even without AndroidAuto you will still be able to answer and make phone calls via voice commands, and the very important, stream music

Big Things, Little Packages

In this day and age where every item seems to be more expensive, and yet our salaries aren’t increasing, budgeting will always be the first thing in mind when purchasing a vehicle. Gas would be the first expense, because we are faced with the reality on a daily basis. The 2019 Ford EcoSport Titanium would be perfect for those conscious of how much they’ll be spending at the pumps, because the top spec comes with Ford’s award winning 1.0Liter EcoBoost engine. Giving you performance of an engine in a higher displacement, but fuel economy, which matches its miniscule engine size. The trip from Ford Global City, to Batangas barely made 1/4th of the tank. Considering we made an out of direct route stop for lunch, and we were all driving quite swiftly.

Critics would argue that 1Liter is too small of an engine, and won’t be able to power along the 2019 EcoSport. They could not be anymore wrong. The 1Liter turbocharged engine in this compact SUV left the EcoSport Trend with a 1.5Liter engine, gasping for air. Making child’s play out of passing slower vehicles on provincial roads. I had the opportunity to drive both, and I can tell you personally, the difference is quite noticeable. Even other journalists were thinking they were in the 1.5Liter, but realistically they were in the 1.0L EcoBoost giving us all a surprise with its performance.

I’ll Take One

Top tech in the interior, top styling on the exterior, and a top of class engine under the hood. This is a package, which is hard to pass up, especially if you’re considering getting your first vehicle. This city dweller comes in many variants, and you’ll have free range to choose which fits your lifestyle.

1.5L Ambiente (Manual Transmission) is PHP 918,000*

1.5L Trent (Manual Transmission) is PHP 968,000*

1.5L Trend (Automatic Transmission) is PHP 1,028,000*

1.0L EcoBoost Titanium (Automatic Transmission) is PHP 1,168,000*

*Price, as of date tested

Personally I’ll go for the 1.0L Titanium, because it has everything you would ever need in a vehicle. I don’t feel like I’m driving a Ford Fiesta on stilts anymore, because it is in an absolutely different playing field now. Ford Group Philippines’ Managing Director Bert Lessard said over dinner, the 1.0L EcoBoost engine could actually be placed in a bag, and stored in an airplane’s overhead bin. I have no plans of doing so, but I like knowing that I could, if some strange series of events would lead me to do so.